Fluid distribution control device

ABSTRACT

A device for directing conditioned fluid from a central conditioning station to an individual use station and directing the return of the fluid to the central conditioning station. A single, multi-purpose unit is contained within the device to provide a compact distribution control and information center to be installed within a conditioned fluid supply and use system.

United States Patent 1 91 11 3,730,429 Pinto 51 May 1, R973 FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner DEVICE INDIVIDUAL Att0rneyLane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems [75] Inventor: Horace G. Minto, Tampa, Fla. [73] Assignee: Bay Mechanical Company, Tampa, [57] ABSTRACT 1713- A device for directing conditioned fluid from a central 22 d: M 27 1971 conditioning station to an individual use station and 1 1e ay directing the return of the fluid to the central condi- PP -I ,500 tioning station. A single, multi-purpose unit is contained within the device to provide a compact dis- 52 U.s.c1...' ..236/94 165/11 ibufiml comm and information be 51 1m.c1. .G05 d 23/00 Stalled within a mdiimed fluid Supply and use [58] Field of Search ..236/1 c, 94; 165/11 system- [56] References Cited 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,711 7/1948 Shaw "236/345 3,300,132 1/l967 Grahl ..236/1C T CEnTR/TL I 00110111014150 l2 FLUID SUPPLY LUID USE STATION PATENTEDHAY 1191: 3,730,429

' I SHEET 1 M2 FIG.

CENTRAL CONDITIONED FLUID SUPPLY INDIVIDUAL FLUID USE STATION INVENTOR HORACE G. M INTO A ORNEYS FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fluid distribution control and condition indicating devices and more particularly it concerns a fixture which aids in fluid distribution and which, in combination with an automatic control device, is easily installed within a small area with a minimum of on-the-job installation labor.

. In the installation of air conditioning systems in large buildings it is conventional practice to provide a central .source of heated or cooled fluid which is then distributed to individual use stations located at various points about the building. The function of these individual use stations is to employ the supply of heated or cooled fluid to temper the air for the local area. Naturally, as the temperature of the local area varies, it becomes necessary to control the amount of conditioned fluid being supplied to the individual use station. A common control system in use today includes a thermostatically actuated control valve at or near the individual air handling unit which admits more or less conditioned fluid to the individual use station depending upon the requirements of the space. The control valve might, for example, operate to divert the flow of conditioned fluid from the central supply in varying degree to'the individual use station to be used to modify the local temperature.

Customary practice requires the installation of several components in the piping adjacent to the control valve for proper connection of the central supply to the individual use station. An isolation valve is usually I provided to permit installation and maintenance of the control valve as well as necessarily included filter assemblies. Reducing fittings are usually required as well, as the openings into the control valve are normally smaller than the supply line. Also included in this array of components are various unions or flanged connections to permit ease of assembly and disassembly for maintenance, and instrumentation such as condition indicators.

Each of these components must be properly arranged in relation to each other and the supply and use systems, and must be arranged to conform to the space available for installation. The requirement of on-site interconnection of the various necessary components increases the possibility for error in installation and consequent failure. Once installation has been completed it is necessary to insulate the components from one another and from the ambient air in order to eliminate problems of condensation and break-down of the installation. The continuing high price and general unavailability of skilled labor has further compounded the problems attendant such an installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid distribution control device which can be rapidly installed within a fluid supply and use system in an error-free manner. It is a further object of the present invention toeliminate the need for separate purchase and assembly on-the-job of the multitude of components necessary for the operation of a fluid control distribution device.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and the exact nature of the invention will be clearly understood when the following description is considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in schematic representation, of the device of the present invention shown within a conditioned fluid supply and use system;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 shown without the door and without the insulation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line'44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the fluid distribution device 10 of the present invention in functional relationship with a central conditioned fluid supply 12 and an individual fluid usestation 14. The distribution control device 10 includes a housing 16 which encloses the device and is provided with an access cover 18 which is attached to the housing 16 by means of a hinge 20. The interior of the housing 16 which is not occupied by the components shown in FIG. 2 and described below, is substantially filed with a foam 22 which has the property of being thermally, vibrationally and dielectrically insulative, such as urethane or the like.

In FIG. 2, which best illustrates the components of the distribution control device 10, a fixture generally indicated by the reference numeral 24 is shown attached to the housing 16 in a manner to be described below. A valve body 26 contains a thermostatically controlled valve (not shown), and is also located within the housing 16. A control mechanism 28 for the valve protrudes through an opening in the housing 16 and operates the thermostatically controlled valve and communicates with the valve through a passage 30 which extends from the valve body 26. The valvebody 26 is connected to the fixture 24 by means of a first conduit 32 and a second conduit 34. The valve body 26 is also in communication with the individual fluid use station 14 through a conduit 36 and a flange 37 with a central opening, through a conduit 38. The flange 37 is in registration with a corresponding opening in the housing l6 and is attached to the housing by bolts 37 As best illustrated in FIG. 3 the base 40 of the fixture 24 hasan inlet opening 42 which is in registry with a corresponding inlet opening 44 in the housing 16. The base 40 of the fixture 24 is held to the housing 16 by means of bolts 46 which also hold a flange 48, with a central opening 50, to the housing 16. Shown within the opening 50 in the flange 48 is a conduit 52 through which conditioned fluid is supplied to the fixture 24 from the conditioned fluid supply 12.

The base 40 of the fixture 24 encloses a chamber indicated generally by the reference numeral 54 which opens adjacent an inlet passageway, generally indicated by the reference numeral 56, and communicates through the inlet opening 42 with the conduit 52.

Disposed within the chamber 54 is an isolation valve 58 including an operating stem 60 fixedly attached thereto. The operating stem 60 is journaled within a seal 61 located within an opening in the base 54 so that the operating stem 60 projects through and is operable from outside of the base. A sealing ring 62 is seated within the perimeter of the portion of the inlet passageway 56 opposite the inlet opening 42 and is arranged so that the isolation valve 58 abuts against it when the valve 58 is in the closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A generally cylindrical projection 63 is part of the fixture 24 and forms a chamber, generally designated by the reference numeral 64, which communicates with the inlet passageway 56 when the isolation valve 58 is not in the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The portion of the chamber 64 opposite the inlet passageway 56 is closed by a plug 66 and the chamber is large enough to receive a filter element 68. The plug 66 includes an opening 70 therein thus permitting connection, by means of a conduit 72, between the chamber 64 and the exterior of the housing 16 through a blowdown valve (not shown) contained within a blowdown valve body 74. The blowdown valve is operable by a blowdown valve handle 76 attached thereto within the housing 16. The chamber 64 in the fixture 24 includes an opening for the positioning of a temperature sensor 78 with a temperature indicator 80 attached in functional relationship to the sensor and located outside of the fixture 24.

Also attached to the base 40 of the fixture 24 is a hollow elbow-like projection 82 which communicates at one end with the inlet passageway 56 through the filter 68. The other end of the projection 82 ends in a flange portion 84 which, through the use of a flange 86 with a central opening, attached to the fixture 24 by bolts 88, is used to communicate the interior of the elbow-like projection 82 with the interior of the valve body 26 through the conduit 32.

The base 40 also encloses a chamber generally designated by the reference numeral 90 located adjacent an outlet passageway generally designated by the reference numeral 92. The outlet passageway 92 communicates with the fluid supply 12 through the conduit 94 through an opening 96 in the base 40 and a corresponding outlet opening 98 in the housing 16. The portion of the base 40 containing the outlet passageway 92 is fastened to the housing 16 by bolts 100 which also fasten a flange 102 with a central opening 104 to the housing 16. An isolation valve 106 including an operating stem 108 is enclosed within the chamber 90. The operating stem 108 is joumaled in a seal 110 located within an opening in the base 40, and protrudes through the base so as to be operable from outside of the base to close off the outlet passageway 92. A sealing ring 112 is seated within the periphery of the portion of the outlet passageway 92 opposite the outlet port 96 to aid the isolation valve 106 in closing off the outlet passageway 92.

A generally cylindrical hollow projection 114 protrudes from the base 40 with one opening of the hollow interior 116 in registration with the outlet passageway 92 and another opening of the hollow interior in communication with the thermostatically controlled valve within the valve body 26 through the conduit 34. A damper valve 118 and attached operating stern 120 is journaled within the portion of the projection 114 closest the communication with the conduit 34. The operating stem 120 extends through a seal 12] in an opening of a wall of the cylindrical projection 114 and is operable from outside of the fixture 24.

As seen in FIG. 5, a hollow generally cylindrical projection 122 protrudes from the projection 114 at approximately the midpoint of the projection 114. The distal portion of the projection 122 ends in a flange 124 which abuts the rear portion of the housing 116. An opening 126 in the distal portion of the projection 122 is in registration with a corresponding opening 128 in the rear portion of the housing 16. The flange 124 is fixedly attached to the housing 16 by means of bolts 130 which pass through a flange 132 holding it in fixed position on the rear portion of the housing 16. The flange 132 is held in a manner that a central opening 134 within the flange is in registration with the opening 128 in the housing 16. A conduit 136 is held by the flange 132 with the interior portion 138 of the conduit 136 in registration with the opening 128. The conduit 136, as shown in FIG. 1, communicates with the individual fluid use station 14. An opening 138 within the projection 122 contains a temperature sensor 140. The temperature sensor 140 is operatively connected, via a conduit 141, to a temperature indicator 142.

As further seen in FIG. 5, an opening 144 appears in the portion of the projection 114 opposite the projection 122 and contains a flow-rate sensing device 146 in the opening. A propeller 148, the sensor of the flowrate sensing device 146, extends within the projection 122. A flow-rate indicator 148 is in operable relationship with the flow-rate sensing device 146 and is mounted outside of the projection 114.

As may be best seen in FIG. 1, the cover 18 contains openings 150, 152, and 154 located so that the indicators 80, 142 and 148 respectively may be viewed when the cover 18 closes the access opening of the housing 16.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, an opening 156 appears in the projection 82. This opening 156 results from the intersection of a generally cylindrical alternate projection on projection 82 with a flange 158 (best seen in FIG. 2) at its distal end which may be used as an alternate means of attachment of the conduit 136. When the conduit 136 is attached as illustrated in this embodiment, the opening 156 is shut by closing the distal opening with a fluid-tight plate removably attached to the flange 158.

As viewed in FIG. 2, a cover plate 160 seals off an alternate opening in the projection 82 which may serve as an alternate place for insertion of the flow-rate sensing device 146 and the accompanying flow-rate indicator 148.

The insulating foam 22, if the unit is to be sold as a preassembled device for rapid installation, is added to the device to fill the unoccupied spaces within the housing 16 after all the components have been assembled. Protective covers are placed about the operating stems 60, 108 and 120 as well as about the blowdown valve handle 76 and clean-out plug 66 before introduction of the foam into the device so that they are operable once the insulating foam 22 is applied and the covers removed. In a similar manner, the indicators 80, 142 and 148 are maintained free of insulation so that they are readable through the corresponding openings 150, 152 and 154 in the cover 18 when it is closed.

In operation, the isolation valve operating stems 60 and 108 are used to move the valves 58 and 1116 respec- .tively into the chambers 54 and 911 thereby unsealing the inlet passageway 56 and the outlet passageway 92. The heated or chilled fluid from the supply 12 then passes through the conduit 52, enters the fixture 24 through the inlet opening 42, and enters the chamber 64. The temperature of the fluid is sensed by the sensor 78 just prior to its passing through the filtering element 68 and into the elbow-like projection 82.

The conditioned fluid then passes through conduit 32 into the valve body 26. Depending upon the setting of the thermostatically controlled valve, the fluid moves into the individual fluid use station 14 through the conduit 38 or is partially diverted back to the fixture 24 through the conduit 34. The return fluid from the individual fluid use station 14 enters the fixture 24 through the conduit 136 where its temperature is sensed by the sensor 140 and the rate of its flow is detected by the flow-rate sensor 146. The fluid then returns to the central conditioned fluid supply 12 through the conduit 94, along with any fluid from the conduit 34. The output from the temperature sensor 140 is supplied via the conduit 141 both to a return temperature indicator 142 and the thermostatically controlled valve housed within the valve body 26.

The thermostatically controlled valve may be of any wellknown type which operates to divert an incoming fluid supply to one of two outlets in response to a temperature input. Valves of this nature are commercially available and the valve'itself forms no part of this invention. A temperature sensor (not shown) is contained within the individual fluid use station 14 and, as seen in FIG. 1, communicates with the control mechanism 28 through a tube 29.

A periodic clean-out of the filter element 68 is desirable and toward this end the clean-out valve contained within the cleanout valve body 74 is operable by the use of the blowdown valve handle 76 accessible once the cover 1% is opened. As mentioned above, the insulative foam 22 is formed so that the clean-out plug 66 is accessible when the cover 18 is opened for periodic maintenance of the filter element 68.

Prior to assembly of the components, if it is determined that the contemplated conditioned fluid supply and use system arrangement requires it, the alternate flange 158 may be used as well as the alternate opening for connection of the flow meter covered by the cover plate 160. A preassembled unit might include all of the components illustrated in FIG. 2 and, in addition, have attached to the outside of the housing 16 the flanges 37, 48, 102 and 132. Installation of the device would thus require only five field-made connections; two each to the central conditioned fluid supply and the individual fluid use station and one to the use station temperature sensor to provide a completely operable installation.

It will thus be appreciated that by this invention there is provided a thermally conditioned fluid control device which is capable of rapid and error-free installation within a conditioned fluid supply and use system. While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and has been described in detail therein, it would be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A fluid distribution device for employment within a thermally conditioned fluid supply and use system, said device comprising: a housing defining an enclosure; a one-piece fixture being located within said housing and having a base; said base defining first and second passageways for communication of the interior of said fixture with said supply system; an isolation valve located within said base in a manner to close said first and second passageways selectively; a hollow first projection on said base with the interior in communication with said first passageway; said first projection defining a chamber adapted to receive a filter element; said first projection further defining an access opening which is selectively closable and an opening adapted to receive a temperature sensor; a hollow second projection on said base with the interior in communication with the interior of said first projection; a hollow third projection on said base with the interior in communication with said second passageway and defining an opening adapted to receive a flow-rate sensor; a damper valvelocated within the distal end of said third projection for reducing the effective size of an opening at said distal end, selectively; a hollow fourth projection on said third projection having a flanged distal portion within the interior of said fourth projection in communication with the interior of said third projection; a thermostatically controlled valve within said housing in operative relationship with said fixture for connecting said fluid supply with said fluid use station through said fixture, selectively; said housing including, means for communication of said fixture and said thermostatically controlled valve with said fluid supply and said use stations in a rapid error-free manner through corresponding openings in said housing; insulation filling said remaining areas within said housing for insulating said components from each other and from influences external to said housing.

2. A preassembled fluid distribution device for employment within a thermally conditioned fluid supply and use system, said device comprising: a housing defining an enclosure; a one-piece fixture being located within said housing and having a base; said base defining first and second passageways and adjacent first and second chambers with which said passageways communicate respectively; first and second isolation valves located within said respective first and second chambers in a manner to close said first and second passageways selectively, said isolation valves being operable from the outside of said base; a hollow first projection on said base with the interior of said projection in communication with said first passageway; said first projection defining a chamber adapted to receive a filter element and an opening adapted to receive a first temperature sensor; a first temperature sensor located in said last-named opening; said first projection further defining an access opening which is selectively closeable; a hollow, elbow-like second projection on said base, the interior of said second projection being in communication with the interior of said first projection; said fixture having a hollow cylinder-like third projection on said base with the interior being in communication with said second passageway; said third projection defining an opening adapted to receive a flow-rate sensor; a flow-rate sensor being located in said last-named opening; said third projection further defining an opening at the distal end; a damper valve being located within said third projection at said distal end, and being operable from the outside of said second projection for varying the effective size of said distal-end opening of said third projection; said third projection having a hollow cylinder-like fourth projection withthe interiors of said third and fourth projections in communication at the place of projection with a flange at the distal end of said fourth projection, said fourth projection further defining an opening adapted to receive a second temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor being located in said last-named opening; an indicator being located within said housing in operative relationship with each of said respective temperature and flow-rate sensors; a valve body within said housing being operable from outside of said housing; said valve body including a thermostatically controlled valve and defining a plurality of openings for communication of said fluid supply system with said fluid use system selectively through said one-piece fixture; said thermostatically controlled valve operatively connected to said fluid use system; said housing including first flange means for communicating said first and second passageways of said base with said fluid supply system through a communication opening in said housing; said housing further including second flange means for communicating said distal end of said fourth projection with said fluid use system through another housing communication opening; insulation means filling the unoccupied portions of said housing for thermal, vibrative, and dielectric insulation of the components of said device from each other and from influences external to said device; said housing including an access cover movably attached to said housing for substantially completely closing said housing; said cover defining a plurality of openings for viewing said indicators with said housing in said closed position.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second projection defines an opening adapted to receive a flowrate sensor, said last-named opening being sealable selectively; a hollow fifth projection on said second projection with the interior in communication with the interior of said second projection and defining a flanged opening in the distal portion, which flanged opening is scalable selectively.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said device includes a blowdown valve fixedly attached within said housing and operatively connected to said access opening of said first projection; said blowdown valve includmg an operating stem operable for cleansing of said filter element selectively; said operative interconnection between said blowdown valve and said first projection being further characterized in that the interior of said first projection is selectively accessible from the outside of said housing when said housing access cover is in said open position.

5. A fluid distribution device for employment in a thermally conditioned fluid supply, use and return system, said device comprising: a housing having an access door; a one-piece fixture within said housing to establish conditioned fluid supply and return passageways adapted to be connected through said housing to system piping located outside of said housing; system fluid sensing devices carried by said fixture and operably connected with associated indicators, respectively, said indicators being located within said housing and presented behind said access door; and control valve means within said housing connected in operable relation with said passageways and having actuators accessible through access door, thereby to provide in said housing, a pre-packaged distribution, control and indicating assembly adapted for rapid, errorfree installation in such a thermally conditioned fluid system.

6. The device of claim 5 including ports in said access door for visual observation of said indicators without opening said door.

7. The device recited in claim 6 wherein said housing is filled with a block of thermal, vibrative and dielectric insulation, said block having recessed openings to accommodate said indicators and said valve actuators behind said access door. 

1. A fluid distribution device for employment within a thermally conditioned fluid supply and use system, said device comprising: a housing defining an enclosure; a one-piece fixture being located within said housing and having a base; said base defining first and second passageways for communication of the interior of said fixture with said supply system; an isolation valve located within said base in a manner to close said first and second passageways selectively; a hollow first projection on said base with the interior in communication with said first passageway; said first projection defining a chamber adapted to receive a filter element; said first projection further defining an access opening which is selectively closable and an opening adapted to receive a temperature sensor; a hollow second projection on said base with the interior in communication with the interior of said first projection; a hollow third projection on said base with the interior in communication with said second passageway and defining an opening adapted to receive a flow-rate sensor; a damper valve located within the distal end of said third projection for reducing the effective size of an opening at said distal end, selectively; a hollow fourth projection on said third projection having a flanged distal portion within the interior of said fourth projection in communication with the interior of said third projection; a thermostatically controlled valve within said housing in operative relationship with said fixture for connecting said fluid supply with said fluid use station through said fixture, selectively; said housing including means for communication of said fixture and said thermostatically controlled valve with said fluid supply and said use stations in a rapid error-free manner through corresponding openings in said housing; insulation filling said remaining areas within said housing for insulating said components from each other and froM influences external to said housing.
 2. A preassembled fluid distribution device for employment within a thermally conditioned fluid supply and use system, said device comprising: a housing defining an enclosure; a one-piece fixture being located within said housing and having a base; said base defining first and second passageways and adjacent first and second chambers with which said passageways communicate respectively; first and second isolation valves located within said respective first and second chambers in a manner to close said first and second passageways selectively, said isolation valves being operable from the outside of said base; a hollow first projection on said base with the interior of said projection in communication with said first passageway; said first projection defining a chamber adapted to receive a filter element and an opening adapted to receive a first temperature sensor; a first temperature sensor located in said last-named opening; said first projection further defining an access opening which is selectively closeable; a hollow, elbow-like second projection on said base, the interior of said second projection being in communication with the interior of said first projection; said fixture having a hollow cylinder-like third projection on said base with the interior being in communication with said second passageway; said third projection defining an opening adapted to receive a flow-rate sensor; a flow-rate sensor being located in said last-named opening; said third projection further defining an opening at the distal end; a damper valve being located within said third projection at said distal end, and being operable from the outside of said second projection for varying the effective size of said distal-end opening of said third projection; said third projection having a hollow cylinder-like fourth projection with the interiors of said third and fourth projections in communication at the place of projection with a flange at the distal end of said fourth projection, said fourth projection further defining an opening adapted to receive a second temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor being located in said last-named opening; an indicator being located within said housing in operative relationship with each of said respective temperature and flow-rate sensors; a valve body within said housing being operable from outside of said housing; said valve body including a thermostatically controlled valve and defining a plurality of openings for communication of said fluid supply system with said fluid use system selectively through said one-piece fixture; said thermostatically controlled valve operatively connected to said fluid use system; said housing including first flange means for communicating said first and second passageways of said base with said fluid supply system through a communication opening in said housing; said housing further including second flange means for communicating said distal end of said fourth projection with said fluid use system through another housing communication opening; insulation means filling the unoccupied portions of said housing for thermal, vibrative, and dielectric insulation of the components of said device from each other and from influences external to said device; said housing including an access cover movably attached to said housing for substantially completely closing said housing; said cover defining a plurality of openings for viewing said indicators with said housing in said closed position.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second projection defines an opening adapted to receive a flow-rate sensor, said last-named opening being sealable selectively; a hollow fifth projection on said second projection with the interior in communication with the interior of said second projection and defining a flanged opening in the distal portion, which flanged opening is sealable selectively.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said device includes a blowdown valve fixedly attached within saId housing and operatively connected to said access opening of said first projection; said blowdown valve including an operating stem operable for cleansing of said filter element selectively; said operative interconnection between said blowdown valve and said first projection being further characterized in that the interior of said first projection is selectively accessible from the outside of said housing when said housing access cover is in said open position.
 5. A fluid distribution device for employment in a thermally conditioned fluid supply, use and return system, said device comprising: a housing having an access door; a one-piece fixture within said housing to establish conditioned fluid supply and return passageways adapted to be connected through said housing to system piping located outside of said housing; system fluid sensing devices carried by said fixture and operably connected with associated indicators, respectively, said indicators being located within said housing and presented behind said access door; and control valve means within said housing connected in operable relation with said passageways and having actuators accessible through access door, thereby to provide in said housing, a pre-packaged distribution, control and indicating assembly adapted for rapid, error-free installation in such a thermally conditioned fluid system.
 6. The device of claim 5 including ports in said access door for visual observation of said indicators without opening said door.
 7. The device recited in claim 6 wherein said housing is filled with a block of thermal, vibrative and dielectric insulation, said block having recessed openings to accommodate said indicators and said valve actuators behind said access door. 